TCL 501 Deals - May 2026
Compare 1 SIM-free offer for the TCL 501 from UK retailers.
Buy the TCL 501 SIM-free from £58.90 at Amazon.
1 refurbished deal available - SIM-free from £54.00.
TCL 501 32GB deals
Find the best 32GB deal on the TCL 501 from 1 options.
Spec scores
Under £200 Phones · 108 phones
Performance
0.7
/5
Display
1.3
/5
Rear Camera
1.1
/5
Front Camera
0.7
/5
Battery
1.4
/5
Deals
SIM Free from £58.90
Color
All
Black
Storage
All
32GB
First-time smartphone users, children, elderly relatives, or anyone needing an ultra-cheap backup device for basic calls, messaging, and essential apps.
TCL 501 SIM Free (1 deals)
Filters
501 32GB (Black)
Cost breakdown
Cashback:
£0.00
Total Cost:
£58.90
Upfront Cost:
£58.90
About the TCL 501
The TCL 501 sits at the very bottom of the smartphone market, and it embraces that position honestly. Available for as little as 29 pounds on some UK networks, it is designed for people who need a basic smartphone without pretence of competing with mid-range devices. Android 14 Go edition keeps the experience lean and responsive on just 2GB of RAM and the MediaTek Helio G36 processor, ensuring core apps like WhatsApp, YouTube, and web browsing run without major complaints. The 6.0-inch display is compact and easy to handle, though its 540 x 1092 resolution is noticeably soft compared to modern screens. The 5MP rear camera and 2MP selfie camera are bare minimum offerings suited for quick snaps rather than serious photography. At 3,000mAh, the battery is modest and will need daily charging with anything beyond light use. Where the TCL 501 earns its place is as a first phone for children, a backup device, a handset for elderly relatives who want simple smartphone access, or a temporary phone while your main device is being repaired. It does not try to be more than it is, and at its price, it does not need to.
Price History
Tracking the best prices since 27 Apr 2026.
TCL 501 vs TCL 505 — Key Differences
| Feature | TCL 501 | TCL 505 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.0″ IPS (540 x 1092), 60Hz | 6.75″ IPS (720 x 1600), 90Hz |
| Processor & RAM | Helio G36, 2GB RAM | Helio G36, 4GB RAM |
| Battery | 3,000mAh | 5,010mAh |
| Main Camera | 5MP | 50MP + 2MP |
| Software | Android 14 (Go edition) | Android 14 |
| SIM-free price | From £58.90 | From £83.99 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the TCL 501 worth buying?
The TCL 501 is worth buying only if your budget is extremely limited or you need a basic smartphone for simple tasks. At around 29 to 60 pounds, it handles WhatsApp, YouTube, web browsing, and phone calls adequately. It is not suitable for gaming, photography, or heavy multitasking, but as an ultra-budget device for essential use, it serves its purpose.
Can the TCL 501 run WhatsApp and social media apps?
Yes, the TCL 501 runs WhatsApp and YouTube smoothly thanks to Android 14 Go optimisations. Instagram works but can be laggy, and TikTok is usable but not ideal. Banking apps and BBC iPlayer also function well. Very demanding social media apps may feel sluggish due to the 2GB of RAM.
How good is the TCL 501 camera?
The 5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera are basic by any standard. Photos are acceptable for quick documentation in good lighting but lack detail and struggle significantly in low light. This is not a phone for anyone who values photography. It is functional for video calls and scanning QR codes.
How long does the TCL 501 battery last?
The 3,000mAh battery provides enough power for light usage throughout a day, including calls, messaging, and occasional browsing. Heavier usage including video streaming will require a midday top-up. The small battery is the phone's most notable weakness.
Does the TCL 501 support 5G?
No, the TCL 501 is a 4G-only device. At its ultra-budget price point, 5G is not available. For most of the basic tasks this phone is designed for, 4G connectivity is perfectly adequate.
Is the TCL 501 good for elderly users?
The TCL 501 can work well for elderly users who want basic smartphone functionality. Its compact 6.0-inch size is easy to hold, Android Go keeps the interface simple, and it handles calls, messaging, and video apps without complication. The lower resolution screen may be harder to read for some, but the overall simplicity is an advantage.
TCL 501 Specifications
Spec Scores
Under £200 Phones · 108 phones
- Helio G36
- Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53)
This phone
14%
Avg
22%
Best
38%
This phone
14%
Avg
45%
Best
100%
Based on calibrated CPU benchmark rankings (60%) and GFXBench GPU scores (40%). Apple chipsets included via editorial calibration since AnTuTu under-represents Apple's architecture.
- 6.0 inches
- 540 x 1092 pixels (~203 ppi density)
- IPS
This phone
25%
Avg
40%
Best
85%
This phone
25%
Avg
60%
Best
100%
Based on panel type (LTPO is the modern flagship gold standard), resolution, refresh rate, peak brightness, screen size, and HDR10+ / Dolby Vision support. Marketing peak-brightness claims are capped at 3500 nits to prevent inflation.
- Single camera setup
- 5 MP main camera
- 1080p video recording
This phone
22%
Avg
26%
Best
49%
This phone
22%
Avg
39%
Best
90%
Based on main-sensor size (1-inch / 1/1.3" beats 1/2.0"), telephoto reach (periscope > 5x > 3x optical), image processing tier (Apple Pro, Pixel Pro, Galaxy Ultra, Honor Magic Pro, Xiaomi Ultra), pro video features (ProRes, Apple Log, Dolby Vision), camera-partnership branding (Leica, Hasselblad, Zeiss) and OIS. Older flagships are de-rated since image processing pipelines have advanced significantly each generation. Megapixel count is deliberately downweighted — it correlates poorly with real-world camera quality.
- 2 MP front camera
This phone
14%
Avg
36%
Best
80%
This phone
14%
Avg
55%
Best
92%
Based on selfie megapixels and max selfie-video resolution.
- 3,000 mAh
- 10W wired
This phone
28%
Avg
49%
Best
79%
This phone
28%
Avg
52%
Best
100%
Based on battery capacity (mAh) adjusted for platform efficiency calibrated against NotebookCheck, Tom's Guide, GSMArena and CNET reviewer tests. Apple A-series gets +45% (iOS process freezing + LTPO 1Hz + tuned panels make iPhone Pro Max outlast many 6500+ mAh Android phones in measured tests). Top Snapdragon / Dimensity flagships get +15%, budget chipsets are penalised −15% to −25% to reflect less efficient displays and looser background limits. Charging speed is excluded — see the separate Fast charging tag for that.
General
Dimensions
156.5 x 74.9 x 9.7
SIM
Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Operating System
Android 14
Colours
Radio
Unspecified
Body
Black, Glacial Blue
Camera
Primary Camera Megapixels
5
Primary Camera
5 , f/2.2
Primary Camera Video
1080@30fs
Primary Selfie Camera
2 , f/2.8
Video Resolution
1080
Selfie Video Resolution
720@30fs
Display
Type
IPS LCD
Display Size
6.0
Display Resolution
540 x 1092 pixels (~203 ppi density)
CPU & Memory
Chipset
Helio G36
GPU
PowerVR GE8320
CPU
Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53)
Memory Card Slot
microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal Storage
Sound
Loudspeaker
Yes
3.5mm Jack
Yes
Connectivity & Data
2G
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G
HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G
1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Network Speed
HSPA, LTE
Network Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth
5.1, A2DP, LE
USB
USB Type-C
NFC
No
GPS
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Battery
Battery
3000
Charging
10W wired
Other
Sensors
Accelerometer